When it became apparent that Covid-19 did not pose a serious clinical threat to children, parents the world over were relieved. Little did they know, however, that the pandemic still represented a huge danger for youngsters: the risk of obesity.
Studies have shown that under-16s have experienced significant weight gain since 2020 when the virus first began to disrupt life internationally, having a detrimental effect on eating and exercise routines. In England, one in four 10- and 11-year-olds is now obese. The picture is similar across Europe, where the World Health Organisation estimates that one in three children is now overweight or obese. It’s little better in the US, where parents report that 30% of children have gained unwanted extra kilos during the past two years.
Apart from being socially inhibiting, childhood obesity can lead to a range of health conditions including fatty liver disease, cancer, pulmonary disease, asthma, sleep apnea, orthopaedic problems, depression and type 2 diabetes. As with many Covid-related issues, the impact has been most pronounced in young people who were already struggling with healthy eating.
Leading nutrition expert Dr Sarah Schenker, a registered dietitian and accredited sports dietitian who has served on professional and government committees, has worked with some of the biggest food and drink brands – including Waitrose – and advised sports stars at football clubs, such as Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
She explains: “Children have a daily requirement for vitamins and minerals, protein, fibre and essential fats that should be met over the course of a day through balanced meals and snacks. They have higher requirements for energy and macronutrients compared with adults. This is to aid growth and development, and the requirement increases over age groups and between girls and boys.”
Taking a low-key, sensitive approach to improving diet is important. Schenker continues: “Most children go through a fussy stage. The key is not to react or make it a big deal, as the problem can get worse. Most will grow out of it.”
Before pickiness tips over into permanent problems, she suggests that parents engage the child in activities such as food shopping and cooking, and allow them to exercise an element of control by helping to plan meals and even create dishes, like healthy smoothies.
Another important strategy is to ensure mealtimes are relaxed family occasions where food is presented in help-yourself sharing bowls so that nobody feels under pressure to consume specific amounts and can take what they want.
There is one more vital rule, one that every parent has probably broken at some point when they needed to get out of the house in a hurry: Never use food as a reward.
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